Page 17 of His To Unravel
Me too.
His response is almost instant, as if he’s been waiting for me to admit it.
NATHANIEL
Then maybe we should make it happen again sometime soon.
For a second, the uncertainty fades, his words centering me as I read them over and over. Despite the chaos around me, his attention feels genuine, even if I still can’t believe it’s directed at me.
I’d like that.
Glancing at the time on our phones, I realize Carolyn and I are cutting it close for Strategic Management.
“We should go,” I say, grabbing my bag. I’m more than ready to leave the lingering questions and not-so-subtle glances from Sophie and Landon behind.
Carolyn smirks, nudging Sophie with a playful grin. “Oh, didn’t we mention? Nathaniel’s in this class too.” Her tone is laced with implication, and I’m not sure if it’s meant more to tease me or to fuel the rumor mill that’s already churning.
“Lucky you,” Sophie teases, winking as we stand. I roll my eyes, brushing it off as best I can.
Carolyn and I make our way across campus to the lecture hall just before the rush. We find our seats in the second row and settle in.
Just as I start to unpack my laptop, a quiet stir ripples through the room.
I glance around, confused by the sudden murmur, until I catch sight of Nathaniel.
He usually sits in the back, a silent observer, blending effortlessly into the background. But today, he’s making his way down the aisle and heading straight for our row.
I feel my heartbeat accelerate—anticipation tangled with panic.
“Is he…?” Carolyn starts, her tone incredulous, her eyes darting between Nathaniel and me.
He stops beside us, giving Carolyn a polite nod. “Carolyn.” Then, his gaze shifts to me and turns softer, warmer.“Hello, Olivia.”
There’s a gravity in the way he says my name, like it’s meant for me alone.
“Uh, hi,” I manage, trying to keep my composure, but the flurry of whispers around us doesn’tgo unnoticed.
“May I join you?” he asks, gesturing to the empty seat beside me.
Carolyn is visibly amused, while I feel the weight of everyone’s eyes, each glance adding to the pressure in my chest.
Not trusting myself to speak, I simply nod, and Nathaniel takes his seat.
As the lecture begins, his presence beside me makes it nearly impossible to focus. I’m hyper-aware of everything—the scent of his cologne, the way his arm rests casually on the desk, the warmth that radiates from his closeness. The room feels smaller, or maybe I just feel too large, too visible.
I try to keep my focus on Professor Jones’s slides, but my concentration wavers every time Nathaniel shifts or leans forward, his movements calculated and unhurried, amplifying my awareness of him. A faint hum of excitement simmers under my skin, clashing with the nervousness tightening my throat.
Carolyn leans over, her whisper barely contained. “Is he always this attentive?”
I shoot her a look, trying to act unaffected, but my cheeks betray me, heating under her knowing gaze. I don’t even have a chance to answer before Professor Jones’s lecture slips away from me, the words fading into background noise.
Nathaniel leans in close, his hand casually reaching over to scroll on my laptop, adjusting the slides to match what Professor Jones is discussing. His fingers linger on the edge of the trackpad, and when he leans back, he turns slightly toward me, his voice low. “Distracted?”
The word hovers between us, and I know he’s not talking about the class. My pulse races, my breath catching as I manage a shaky nod. “Just…trying to keep up,” I mumble.
His lips curve knowingly, a hint of a smirk that sends a fresh wave of warmth over my skin.
“Good,” he murmurs, the single word heavy with implication.
